For the past few days, my grandmother's first cousin from America has been visiting with her childhood friend who also happens to have roots here. This was the first time either of them had visited the birthplace of their mothers, and it was such a pleasure to be able to share my new (to them) Italian life.

Together, we spent time with P and his parents and talked about old family memories, all while looking at old black and white photos that I had never seen (which may explain my recent obsession with the colorless versions of my own pictures)...and also never-before-seen-by-me footage of P as a baby and young lad. Too cute!

I'll be able to share more of our time together as photos become available (I borrowed a digital but not the cable to upload--argh!), so in the meantime, you'll just have to accept some other images of love that I captured recently.

I almost stepped on this heart in the pavement of a nearby agriturismo(but instead stopped to take a photo).

hi, funny, great minds must think alike as I just posted a recipe for hummus the other day! Though mine is with tahina .... Looking forward to trying an alternative :)PS making progress on the amartetti front - hoping to have a final recipe soon, will share my adventures :)

Ah, aren't really old family photos just the best? I love seeing photos of my mom when she was a kid, and comparing them to me as a kid... and stuff like that! Nowadays we have so many digital photos we never print, but there's nothing like shoeboxes full of old photos. Sounds like you had a great time.

Erika, I've been so out of the blogosphere lately, I must've missed your hummus...I'm on my way! Can't wait to hear more about the amaretti experimenting :)

Flutter, why thank you!

Frances, it truly was something wonderful--reminded me of sitting around listening to my grandmother and her sister reminisce. *So* fun!

Shelley, I'm such a sucker for old photos--kind of does make you think about how so many of ours these days never make it onto paper. Somehow I don't think it'll be the same for future generations to scroll through computer files....

sognatrice, the girls look gorgeous and will soon be snuggling when the weather turns cold. I love the fact that you didn't stand on the heart. Hearts are fragile you know. Well obviously you do, and thank you for being careful with this one and for sharing its beauty with us.

Hee! Puppy dog tails! (Who says "that's what little boys are made of"? Those are girl puppy dogs, after all.)

I'm so glad I'm not the only one still doing the Love Thursday thing. Nice tribute to Karen, and besides, it's fun. :) I'm even more glad that your life is so overflowing with love these days that you can't help it.

Scarlett, the girls are almost peas in a pod--and I *love* the writing project tag. Thanks!

AV, I suppose I am kind of superstitious about things like stepping on hearts....

David, I think you just need some time with Luna and Stella; they love a challenge ;)

Sara, as you know, I don't do Love Thursday regularly any more, but sometimes you just can't fight what's in front of you.

As for the girls, I love their little wagging butts and tails from behind--and whoever insinuated that puppy dog tails are ugly things, well, they'd clearly never seen Luna and Stella. Too, too cute :)

Scribbit, Chookoloonks was, I believe, the second blog I ever read--the first blog I read linked there, thank goodness. I love Love Thursdays!

They really are so happy together--yesterday we had a scare when Stella ran off for a couple hours. Luna looked so sad (could've been because I was crying too!). Stella came back on her own, though, so I guess she's happy here too ;)

She was sure to give Luna a big swipe of the tongue, which I have never seen her do before--so cute!